Robert Downey Jr. has given high praise to Pedro Pascal, calling him a favorite as both actors are about to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The seasoned actor and former Iron Man star recently explained how much he admires Pascal’s talent and entire journey. According to Pascal, Downey even sent him a personal text and selfie to say that he was supporting him.
Pascal will star in the upcoming reboot of Fantastic parecen as Reed Richards, or Mr. Fantastic. The film is poised to be a mega blockbuster of Marvel’s Phase 6 and is expected to release in July Spaans in July 2-25.
In the meantime, it's worth noting that Downey is returning to the MCU in a way that many wouldn't expect — not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom, the monumental villain, in the aforementioned Avengers: Doomsday, set for 2026.
Although their characters will be facing off by virtue of the film's storyline, the behind the scenes connection between Downey and Pascal adds another interesting element for fans. Downey talked about Pascal's career and deemed it "honorable" before expressing his excitement about Pascal getting a "big role."
This level of support has garnered interest throughout the community and fanbase. This revelation is especially relevant as Marvel is actively developing a new slate of characters and stories after the end of the Avengers saga that many fans had grown up watching most of their lives. Marvel's casting of both Pedro Pascal and Robert Downey Jr. marks an important change in the franchise. Pascal's Mr. Fantastic is going to be a key character in the post-Avengers MCU moving forward and the Fantastic Four will likely be an integral part of the overarching stories to come as well.
Downey's return as Doctor Doom is also a shock, especially when you realize that he had Tony Stark (Iron Man) killed off in Avengers: Endgame. But in playing Doom, he returns in a totally different role – one that might help establish a new major conflict in the MCU.
Already there has been debate online about his return as a villain, with some fans claiming it is a risky but bold choice to advance the Marvel franchise, while others are simply curious about how he will play a character vastly different to Tony Stark.
What makes all of this even more exciting would be the potential to see Pascal and Downey pair off on screen. One as a hero and one as a significant threat. Their chemistry, both as actors and characters, could lend itself to one of the most fascinating rivalries in future Marvel films.
Marvel has yet to unveil any juicy storylines, but I think Marvel fans can expect to be delighted. If all the stars align, Fantastic Four: First Steps and Avengers: Doomsday could be two of the biggest superhero releases over the next few years.
Image Source: CNN
